Linked collapsible shelter structure

Abstract

The collapsible shelter structure comprises a series of panels held in angularly spaced relationship to define a shelter structure. The framework of each panel comprises a pair of generally parallel bars held in spaced relationship by a single central strut. Corresponding ends of the bars are tied together by flexible means, such as a sheet of fabric, preventing the bars from moving out of parallel. The fabric is slightly stretched by the strut. Conveniently, a single bar is common to adjacent panels similarly formed. In order to determine the angularity of adjacent panels, each intermediate bar is provided with a link piloted on the central portion of the bar, the link having two angularly spaced rigid plugs, one detachably telescoped into the brace of one panel and the other detachably telescoped into the brace of the adjacent panel. A solid, but readily erected and collapsed shelter structure results.

Intending to claim all novel, useful and unobvious features shown or described, I make the following claims: 
     
       1. In a collapsible shelter structure: a. a resilient stretchable webbing having a plurality of transverse pockets spaced along the length of the webbing and dividing the webbing into a series of panels, each pocket being at least partially discontinuous at its midlength position to provide an opening on the outside of said shelter;   b. a corresponding plurality of tubular bars or poles accommodated in the pockets, there being two end bars for the pockets at the ends of the webbing and intermediate bars for the other pockets, the intermediate bars or poles having a circular cross-sectional configuration;   c. a corresponding plurality of links, each of the links having a hub journalled at the center of the corresponding bars in alignment with the opening of the corresponding pocket;   d. each of the links for the intermediate bars or poles having rigidly connected to its corresponding hub, a pair of angularly spaced pins projecting radially therefrom in substantially coplanar relationship on the outside of said shelter;   e. each of the links for the end bars or poles having rigidly connected to its corresponding hub, a single pin projecting radially therefrom on the outside of shelter;   f. a plurality of tubular struts on the outside of said shelter having opposite ends telescoped over pins of links for adjacent poles or bars to hold said poles or bars apart with the webbing taut; said struts being of fixed length and movable into connected relationship with said pins one after the other, the connection to the second connector element being established by stretching the webbing until the telescopic connection is made; and   g. the angular spacing of the pins of said intermediate links determining the angularity between adjacent panels and, thereby, the angular orientation of all panels of said shelter structure.   
     
     
       2. In a collapsible shelter structure: a. a resilient stretching webbing;   b. means forming a pocket in the webbing for a ridge pole, each pocket being at least partially discontinuous at its midlength position to provide an opening on the outside of said shelter;   c. a ridge pole in the pocket having a substantially circular cross-sectional configuration;   d. a link having a hub journalled substantially centrally of the ridge pole in alignment with the opening of the pocket, having a pair of angularly spaced pins projecting radially of the hub in substantially coplanar relationship on the outside of said shelter;   e. a first hollow strut on the outside of said shelter structure telescopically connected at one end to one of said pins, said strut extending transversely to said ridge pole;   f. a second hollow strut on the outside of said shelter structure telescopically connected at one end to the other of said pins, said second strut extending transverse to said ridge pole;   g. means carried by said webbing on one side of said first strut; and   h. means carried by said webbing on the other side of said pocket for detachably anchoring the other end of said second strut.   
     
     
       3. The collapsible shelter structure as set forth in claim 2 in which said detachable anchoring means comprise additional poles accommodated in additional pockets of said webbing, the additional pockets each being at least partially discontinuous at its midlength position to provide an opening at the outside of said shelter; and additional links mounted substantially centrally of said additional poles in alignment with the openings of the corresponding pockets, each of said additional links having pins on the outside of said shelter telescopically engaging the said other ends of said struts. 
     
     
       4. In a collapsible shelter structure: a. a resilient stretchable webbing having three transverse elongated pockets spaced from each other along the length of the webbing and dividing the webbing into two adjacent panels, each pocket being at least partially discontinuous at its midlength position to provide an opening on the outside of said shelter;   b. three frame elements accommodated respectively in the pockets, the central portion of each frame element being substantially circular in peripheral contour;   c. three links for the frame elements respectively, and each having a hub journalled on the central portion of the corresponding frame element in alignment with the opening of the corresponding pocket; 13   d. the link for the center frame element having two pins projecting from the hub in fixed angularly spaced substantially coplanar relationship on the outside of said shelter;   e. the other two links each having a pin projecting radially therefrom on the outside of said shelter;   f. two struts on the outside of said shelter structure, one for each of the panels, each strut having one of its ends detachably telescoped over one of the pins of the center frame link and its other end detachably connected to the pin of the link for the corresponding end frame element;   g. said struts holding the webbing taut while the webbing urges the connector elements into assembled relationship with the struts;   h. said connector elements of the link of the center frame connector element determining the angularity of said panels with respect to each other.